ok so ive been watching youtube videos about drones for like 3 weeks now and somehow i feel more confused than when i started. everyone recommends something different and half the videos are clearly just sponsored so i dont really trust them.

i want something to just fly around, maybe take some decent video of my backyard and when i go hiking. nothing crazy professional. my budget is probably around 200-300 dollars but i could stretch it if something is really worth it. do i need to register it with the faa or whatever? also does it matter that ive never flown anything before, like not even an rc car

honestly for that budget the DJI Mini 2 SE is probably the most sensible starting point right now, you can find it close to your upper budget range and it does everything you described without being overwhelming. the thing that matters most for beginners is the return to home function and decent obstacle sensing ? the mini 2 se is pretty bare bones on sensors so just be aware of that, dont fly it into trees on autopilot basically.

on the FAA question yes you do need to register if its over 250 grams which the mini 2 se is just under so you actually might be fine without it depending on how you use it. but seriously just spend the 5 bucks and register anyway, its not worth the headache if something goes wrong. take the TRUST test too its free and takes like 20 minutes.

dont sleep on the Holy Stone HS720 if youre really budget conscious, i started on one and it taught me a lot without me crying when i crashed it which i did, multiple times. yeah the footage isnt going to win awards but you learn stick control and how not to panic when the wind picks up. once i felt comfortable i moved up to a Mini 3 and it felt way more intuitive because i wasnt learning everything at once